“Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing…after they have exhausted all other possibilities.”

Variants of this quote are popularly attributed to Sir Winston Churchill, presumably in reference to the US finally joining the fight against fascism in WWII. Though it may sound like something he’d say, there is no written or recorded evidence that Winston ever made such a statement. In fact, it may be more accurately attributed to Israeli diplomat Abba Eban in 1967, though he referred to “nations” rather than specifically “Americans”.

Ant Pruitt is one of the nerdy technology podcasters I watch regularly—expert photographer, buff weightlifter, avid runner, black father. He talked last week about having to worry every morning about wearing bright, non-threatening running clothes to minimize the risk of surprising or scaring white people on his route—a risk underscored by white men chasing and killing Ahmaud Arbery as he was jogging—and having to talk to his young sons about reducing the risk of being profiled, harassed or killed by police. Clearly these are tough conversations American minorities must have for daily safety and survival in our country that most white Americans never need to consider. Ant stressed that in addition to whites, blacks and other minorities talking together about dismantling systemic bias and bigotry in the US, white folks need to talk about it amongst ourselves, even when black folks aren’t around, even when it’s not MLK Day or Juneteenth. It must be part of white culture as well as black for it to finally work this time.

I remember some white guys in my Missouri youth, typically older schoolmates, routinely using the n-word in attempted jokes and slurs, likely learned from their parents. As a shy kid, I winced inside but said nothing to those ignorant boys, and now remember my silence with regret. I remember being wary of some of the black kids bussed from downtown St. Louis to my north suburban junior high school, having little comprehension of or sympathy for their often rougher realities, and wish I’d had the strength and compassion to reach out more. That was then, this is now, and now I can talk about it privately with friends and family, and write about it publicly, here.

Kudos to NASA management, who from Administrator Jim Bridenstine to Center Directors to my immediate supervisors have made it clear with words and actions that NASA will maintain a diverse, tolerant, safe work environment, and for having direct, open conversations about the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests of this and countless other incidents of unjustified police violence against black Americans. Such conversations acknowledge the still-current challenge of America’s long, tragic history of racist violence from native genocide and brutal kidnapping and enslavement of Africans and their American descendants through Jim Crow repression and today’s lingering injustices—in the “land of the free” that teaches we “are created equal”—only partly addressed by the Civil Rights movements and legislation of the last century. I’ve thought about posting some NASA managers’ heartfelt letters to employees, but more powerful is a recent JSC Diversity Panel discussion (also posted on YouTube) between 5 NASA leaders: JSC Director Mark Geyer, JSC Deputy Director Vanessa Wyche, SSC Assistant Director Daryl Gaines, JSC Deputy CIO Kofi Burney, and Astronaut and Navy Commander Victor Glover. Please take an hour to watch this video, noting these key points from their discussion and shared personal experiences:

1. White people need to educate themselves, not expect black people to be their teachers.
2. Even if you’re doing fine, have empathy for many Americans who are not doing fine.
3. Engage in hard, open conversations as part of necessary healing, understanding and change.
4. Daryl recounted having to calm a ranting, demeaning white traffic cop to de-escalate a potentially dangerous encounter on his way to work, a situation white drivers find annoying rather than threatening.
5. Vanessa recounted having “the talk” with her son for his scholastic survival in a mostly white school with a bullying teacher, and for his literal survival when encountering police, which perhaps helped save his life when police errantly pulled guns on him at work. White sons rarely have to navigate around racist teachers and police.
6. Victor recounted when he and his equally preppy college buddy were mistakenly ordered to the ground outside a K-mart and harassed by police until Victor’s father, a retired police officer, showed up just in time to de-escalate the situation and get his son away from the threat of police. Call this young black man lucky to have a cop as a father, helping him survive to later serve in the US Navy and Astronaut Corps.
7. Kofi recounted how a job headhunter advised him to replace his given name—meaning “born on Friday” in Ghana—with his initials (something less African-sounding) to avoid the bias of racist hirers (who presumably would be surprised when he showed up for an interview). White job applicants don’t need to change their names to avoid racial discrimination.
8. Vanessa recounted how Alex Haley’s Roots had a major impact upon her as a girl. (I remember the TV mini-series impacting me, making the textbook concept of generational slavery more visual, violent, demeaning, real.) Over dinner, her father expressed his hope that MLK’s vision would eventually come to fruition in the US, though still a long way off in the 1977…and 2020.
9. Vanessa reminded us all to talk about these issues, events, and pain, even at work, if only to check on each other. She remembers that after a white supremacist murdered 9 black Americans and wounded 3 more in the 2015 Charleston church mass shooting, no one asked how she was, even knowing she was from South Carolina, as people tended to avoid such subjects at work even 5 years ago. We need to address racial hate and violence openly, no matter how uncomfortable the conversation.
10. Mark shared that he feels he delayed reaching out a few days after George Floyd was tortured to death, perhaps not immediately seeing George as potentially his own son or relative. Understanding and change require broad empathy, especially among white Americans who enjoy societal privilege not enjoyed by minority Americans.
11. NASA strongly supports employees who exercise their 1st Amendment right to peaceful assembly. No one should be afraid of retribution for joining peaceful protests. Great to see our most senior directors state this unequivocally.
12. People around the world strongly support and are inspired by Americans justly protesting systemic racism and racial violence, and join us demanding action and change.

Isn’t progress long overdue? Isn’t it shameful that we still fall so short of American ideals in 2020?

Assuming there is a future, and it’s only the end of the world as we know it (that song is stuck in my head), how will things change? Politico Magazine posted a survey of over thirty professors, authors and other big thinkers recently (19-Mar-2020): Coronavirus Will Change the World Permanently. Here’s How. Below is a summary of their predictions in several categories for a post-pandemic world, some good, some bad, some ugly, some overlapping. First, I’d recommend reading my previous, shorter post, During Pandemic, before diving into this one. Second, a disclaimer: I am not predicting or even espousing all of these, but merely summarizing and commenting on the prognostication of others’ crystal balls. Now, let us gaze into to the future…

Community

1. Personal becomes dangerous
   • Georgetown Prof. Tannen predicts that after seeing the risk of touching strange things and crowds (don’t touch strangers, kids), we may not easily resume shaking hands, touching public surfaces and faces (especially strangers’ faces), or ignoring basic hygiene like routinely washing & disinfecting our hands (apparently no one did that before, judging from empty shelves at CVS).
   • Virtual meetings will be even more popular, as distance feels safer (and saves money on travel).
2. New patriotism
   • Villanova Prof. Schrad hopes that battling on microbiological front lines will make medical professionals our heroes, risking and sacrificing their health and lives for ours.
   • Patriotism can mean supporting community health as much as fighting overseas.
3. Less polarization
   • Columbia Prof. Coleman suggests (dreams?) that the societal shock of suffering mass pain and death, and eventually conquering this common enemy, will finally move us toward national solidarity and functionality.
   • I like silver linings, Doc, but if 9/11 and the Great Recession didn’t create lasting unity, will this shock be big enough? (Then again, a couple months of continuous “family time” will stress out many.)
4. Return of serious experts
   • US Naval War College Prof. Nichols believes our society has been less serious recently due to peace (at home), money, and love of consumer tech/toys (iPhone X or 11?!).
   • Some politicians, cable news flame-throwers and conspiracy mongers capitalized by denouncing scientists, experts and experienced government functionaries for sport and ratings. It’s fun to mock experts…until the global pandemic arrives, and we’re suddenly desperate for knowledge and competence (OK, the Earth really is round and warming…save us, Dr. Fauci!).
   • Perhaps Americans will again value serious experts (when not watching doctors Phil & Oz). Then again, those who deny basic science and clear data can deny anything or anyone, so call my optimism more cautious, Doc.
5. Less individualism
   • NYU Prof. Klinenberg thinks our trend of hyper-individualism and self-seeking behavior reverses with this pandemic (OK, but how does that help me?!), and we’ll become more communal, renewing investments in public (health) goods and services.
   • Maybe, Doc, but social media companies will continue telling their data harvesting sources and algorithmic manipulation targets (aka “customers”) that every uninformed thought, stupid act, and plate of grub is worth sharing with the entire planet. If our online surveillance economy incentivizes narcissism, it’ll remain tough for many to refocus on the common good.
6. Religious worship will look different
   • Director Sullivan observes that social distancing and quarantine already challenge what passes for ministry and fellowship in all religions.
   • Expect more online congregations, an opportunity for people to sample distant sermons, or practice more contemplative meditation by themselves. (Speaking of which, check out the Calm app for mindful, relaxing meditation and sleep stories, including Matthew McConaughey‘s Wonder, so chill and soothing at bedtime…all right, all right, all…zzzzz).
7. New forms of reform
   • Writer Mr. Rauch finds a lesson learned from the HIV/AIDS epidemic may apply to this pandemic: “plagues drive change,” including new organizations, networks, and knowledge bases that significantly change society.
   • We may see major changes in health care, with more emphasis on community and interdependence (a common theme in this list).

Tech

1. Fewer regulatory barriers to online tools
   • Editor-in-Chief Ms. Mangu-Ward is sure the pandemic will sweep away obsolete regulations hindering some parts of online living, particularly more telemedicine and online learning and homeschooling (also common themes).
   • Progress in these areas has been hindered by legacy players and slow/lobbied politicians…who fortunately won’t be able to return the genie to the bottle after the pandemic forces activities online.
   • Many companies will discover that more teleworking options don’t reduce productivity as much as they feared. Though virtual meetings are less efficient than F2F for most folks, many teleworkers save a long commute, not to mention time for showering, shaving, make-up, hair, and dressing (teleworking is pants optional).
2. Healthier digital lifestyle
   • MIT Prof. Turkle sees us rethinking our digitally created community (communal theme).
   • Famous musicians are streaming free live concerts, and inviting young hopefuls to send them performances. Temporarily free services and products (such as video streaming and audiobooks) are being provided online by corporations, entrepreneurs and yoga instructors.
   • Generosity and empathy take over the internet? (Not if online trolls and divisive pundits have any say!)
3. Boon to virtual reality (VR)
   • Vassar Pres. Bradley would like to see VR grow from isolated gaming experiences to programs promoting socialization and mental health of the isolated and quarantined.
   • Instead of battling imaginary foes, VR goggles could put you in a classroom or community gathering, or on a psychologist’s couch (where you slay them with your Elven magic sword!).

Health/Science

1. Rise of telemedicine
   • U of Penn Chair Dr. Emanuel sees remote medical office visits gaining widespread use and popularity as hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed by the pandemic.
   • Telemedicine benefits containment by keeping most people at home, away from critical care patients. (If it puts distance between me and my dentist, I’m in!)
2. Stronger family care
   • Director Poo hopes the crisis will increase political support for Universal Family Care, a single public federal fund/payer that provides child/elder/disabled care and paid family leave.
   • Eliminate the choice between health and financial ruin for Americans without safety nets.
3. Government becomes Big Pharma
   • Roosevelt VP Sterling argues the pandemic has exposed the failures of our costly, inefficient, market-based system for R&D and manufacturing of medicine that now takes ~18 months to develop a new vaccine.
   • Current emergencies create economic incentives, but not future ones. Private companies won’t/can’t prioritize countermeasure development for a health emergency until profitability is assured, typically well into the event when it is too late to prevent. (This reminds me of much cancer research funding targeting stage 4–seeking miraculous rescues from the edge of death–rather than stage 1, though early detection and response is much more effective.)
   • The fragility of supply chains for active pharmaceutical ingredients coupled with public outrage over patent abuses limiting availability of new treatments may create bipartisan consensus (Have you met Congress?!) for a government approach replacing ineffective market-based incentives for basic health needs.
4. Science reigns again
   • Exec Director Trauss (like others in this list) believes the declining credibility of truth and science in recent decades will reverse due to this pandemic.
   • Even science doubters/deniers will see the mass pain and death, not to mention economic impacts, due to coronavirus, and the necessity of experts to fight it.
   • Expect at least partial restoration of public respect for expertise. (If only vaccines cured stupid.)

Government

1. Congress can go virtual
   • MIT Prof. Zuckerman points out that we need Congress working through the crisis, but dispersed in relative isolation. Thus, Congresspeople can legislate remotely from home districts.
   • Virtual work may actually improve Congress critters by making them:
     • closer and more sensitive to their constituents
     • harder to lobby by DC lobbyists paying for DC parties/receptions
     • less conformist if local/home loyalties erode “Party first” fealty
   • Virtualization of the House of Reps would open the door to reapportionment and expansion, so that instead of each Rep representing ~770,000 constituents, we could get back to the 30,000:1 ratio mandated by the Founding Fathers.
2. Big government returns
   • U of Wash Prof. O’Mara notes that the pandemic is making government at all levels–local, state, and federal–more visible on a daily basis as we seek guidance and help.
   • Americans can now see the importance of government in our lives and health, as well as the deadly consequences of previous disinvestment in public infrastructure and dismissal of public expertise.
   • $2 trillion in relief/stimulus is definitely big government on an historic scale.
3. Government service regains cachet
   • U of Maryland Prof. Mason suggests the pandemic will finally kill the Reagan era idea that government is inherently bad, as it provides clear global evidence that functioning government is crucial for a healthy society.
   • Expect a rebirth of government service as a patriotic honor.
4. New civic federalism
   • Harvard Prof. Fung reminds us that the trauma of WWII led to a stronger American government and national solidarity, and thinks the pandemic may similarly spur civic federalism at local and state levels.
   • We may look back and see that state civic and private sector leaders, acting more quickly for the common good, handled the crisis better than national leaders.
   • A renewed sense of solidarity will enable us to better face enormous challenges such as our warming climate and growing economic inequality.
5. New rules
   • Filmmaker & Author Ms. Taylor observes that rules long declared by some to be impossible or impractical to change are being exposed as not so necessary after all, making this an opportunity to permanently change some rules to help millions of vulnerable Americans.
   • In a pandemic, the rules don’t apply or can be paused, e.g., foreclosures, evictions and cessation of utilities for late payments; debtor relief; paid sick leave for workers.
6. Revived trust in institutions
   • Author Mr. Kakutani hopes the pandemic will jolt Americans into valuing institutions essential to a functioning democracy and its ability to respond effectively to national (and global) crises such as this.
   • Government institutions need experts–not mere political loyalists–who base policy on reason, evidence-based science, and historical and geopolitical knowledge.
   • Lesson from 1918 flu pandemic that killed 50 million people: “Those in authority must retain the public’s trust…to distort nothing, to put the best face on nothing, to try to manipulate no one.”
7. Political uprising
   • CEO O’Neil predicts an “uprising”, an Occupy Wall Street 2.0, only bigger and madder (but with longer lasting impact?), will be sparked by the stark difference in medical and economic care provided to rich vs poor communities.
   • Political action and multi-trillion dollar projects are possible for urgent health and economic crises, not for those chronically disregarded for decades. (Short-sighted American politicians rarely think past the current crisis and next election.)

Elections

1. Electronic voting
   • Chairman Brotherton claims the pandemic will kill the limitations of polling places with old voting machines and dense gatherings of voters, paving the way for normalized electronic balloting, as a 2010 law already requires for military and overseas voters.
   • Adoption of secure, transparent, auditable, cost-effective voting from our mobile devices is more likely in the long term.
   • In the short term, a hybrid model uses proven technologies for mobile/at-home electronic voting that still generates paper ballots for tabulation and auditing.
2. Election Month replaces Day
   • Senior Fellow & Author Drutman reasons that if reducing the health risk of Election Day–and the typically senior poll workers–requires minimizing crowds and long lines, we should expect expanded early and mail-in voting, stretching Election Day into Month(s).
   • Like many pandemic-driven changes, this will become permanent once citizens experience the convenience of early/mail voting.
   • Bonus: convenience should increase voter turnout.
3. Voting by mail normalizes
   • VP Kosar & Director Ho (like Drutman above) argue voting by mail is a tested means to protect public health and not delay voting in primaries this spring/summer and the general election this fall.
   • Voters already receive registration cards and elections guides by mail.
   • States should mail every eligible voter a ballot and self-sealing envelope with prepaid postage, while preserving in-person voting options for those who need it. (I vote yea!)

Global Economy

1. Mass consumption restraints
   • Author Ms. Shah offers a scenario in which pandemic trauma forces society to accept restraints on our mass consumer culture in order to mitigate future contagions and climate disasters.
   • Human and industrial encroachment pushes animal habitats closer to ours, increasingly enabling animal microbes to cross over for epidemics in humans.
   • Expect other (relevant?) transformations, such as mainstreaming of universal basic income and mandatory paid sick leave, a mini baby-boom unleashed by mass quarantine, and secluded youth seeking communal life.
2. Stronger domestic supply chains
   • Roosevelt Dr. Tucker says we should expect more political, academic and diplomatic support for government playing a bigger role in creating supply chain redundancy that is resilient to shocks from pandemics, trade wars and protectionism.
   • Economist & Author Ms. Moyo similarly thinks corporations will have to reconsider the efficiencies and costs/benefits of globalized vs more robust domestic supply chains. Expect a shift to the latter to increase costs to corporations and consumers. (I’d pay a little more for goods if it meant stronger domestic supply chains. Remember when Made in China was Made in Taiwan…er…Made in Japan…uh…Made in USA?!)
3. Inequity gap widens
   • Harvard Prof. Skocpol notes that the pandemic will exacerbate the gap between the top 20% and the rest of Americans.
   • The wealthiest 1/5 are often married, highly educated couples in high-salary professions and broadband-ready homes that better accommodate telecommuting; they’ll continue earning steady incomes and order necessities for delivery at home.
   • The other 4/5, often in single-parent/income households and service industries that put them at greater risk of coronavirus contact, lack a financial cushion and may struggle with job loss and family burdens.

Lifestyle

1. Hunger for diversion
   • U of Penn Prof. Berry sees current trends accelerating toward more carefree entertainment, similar to the Roaring 20’s after WWI and the 1918-19 Spanish Flu. (You mean like the last decade since the Great Recession?!)
   • Surviving pandemic, relieved people will search for community and pleasure.
2. Less communal dining, more cooking
   • Yale Prof. Freedman suggests the trend of eating out more than in could reverse now that self-isolated people will do more cooking at home (or order delivery or take-out).
   • The closure of sit-down restaurants, many permanently, will make our eating less communal, at least in public.
3. Parks revival
   • Architecture Critic Ms. Lange still walks daily through the Brooklyn Bridge Park and Brooklyn Heights Promenade, and believes urban parks are big enough to accommodate both crowds and social distancing. (Even the green space running through my neighborhood is sufficiently big for Varya and me to walk daily while maintaining social distance.)
   • After pandemic, society will value big, natural spaces even more, perhaps increasing public investment in parks.
4. Change in “change”
   • Journalist Mr. Continetti sees societal, foundational paradigm shifts after the pandemic akin to after the Civil War, Great Depression and WWII.
   • As the global economy enters a recession that could deepen into depression, and the government invokes wartime powers against a global enemy, Americans must say goodbye to frivolity and change our notion of “change” (the only constant).
5. Habits break
   • Author Ms. Heffernan posits our fears of disease and autocracy will break our habits and programming enough to listen to our common sense and imaginations. People devoted to habits and lacking imagination are slow to recognize existential threats.
   • Our worldview will change after pandemic, and we’ll drop the more harmful, less useful habits. (Maybe, but can I keep my steak fajita habit?!)

Congrats, you made it to the end of one of my longer blog posts. Remember, it’s just a summary–you should see the original article! I hope you enjoyed perusing these predictions (from the socially distant safety of your home). Whether you agree or not, may they spark your own hope and imagination about future possibilities…after pandemic.

I occasionally read NY Times articles using their app on my iPad Pro. My digital NY Times subscription costs $17/month including tax. They gave me a free Google Home last year to try it out, but recently I decided I wasn’t reading the NYT enough to justify the cost, so I texted their customer support today to cancel. After being handed off between a few different reps, here’s how the final SMS conversation went:

Pamela: Thank you for being a valued Basic Digital Access + Google Home subscriber of The New York Times; you’re truly appreciated! …Are you sure you want to give up these great features and if so could you let us know why to make sure we are providing quality service?

Me: Please cancel. I’m cutting expenses.

Pamela: I am sorry to hear that. We would really hate to lose you because we value your readership here at The New York Times. I see you are reaching out to us due to a price concern which I can totally understand because 2019 has started off rough for me financially as well.

[I assume “Pamela”–the rep or the AI bot–had been trained/programmed to say “yeah, me too” to any customer issue for a nice touch of empathy.]

Pamela: How about if we helped you out with the bill for a while? Would you be interested in staying with us a little longer if I was able to offer you Basic Access for a discounted rate of $2.00 per week for a year?

[Oooo…Pamela’s got some room to haggle! How low can she go?!]

Me: No thank you, please cancel.

Pamela: How about only $1.00 per week instead for a year? There is no commitment and you can cancel at any time you would like.

[Now we’re getting somewhere!]

Me: $0.50 per week would be OK. 

Pamela: I have an even better deal: 8 free weeks. How does that sound?

[How can you know where the line is until you cross it?!]

Me: And then $0.50 per week after that.

Pamela: We do not have that rate. I really do apologize for the inconvenience. It will be $3.75 per week after 8 weeks. If you are not interested in this limited time offer I will process your cancellation now.

[Looks like I reached Pamela’s limit. Time to reel it back in.]

Me: $1 per week for a year is OK. 

Pamela: Great to hear! Please bear with me while I update your account… Thank you for being the best part of The New York Times. Have a wonderful day!

So, Pamela (or it’s programmer) gets to take credit for retaining a nearly lost customer, while I get a 73% price reduction…win/win!

What was likable about 2018? At least a few things…

The Three-Body Problem is Cixin Liu’s impressively ambitious and imaginative science fiction trilogy (The Three-Body Problem, The Dark Forest, Death’s End), spanning centuries from the terror of the Chinese Cultural Revolution through humanity’s first contact with other civilizations in our galaxy all the way to…well, suffice it to say that some really weird, wild stuff goes down in the far future. Cixin Liu’s epic is considered “hard” sci-fi, meaning no magic wands or dragons or even an unexplained “warp drive”, and plenty of cool technological extrapolations from current scientific understanding, from the smallest quantum scales up to the entire universe(s). The first book hooked me, the second dragged on a bit, but the third again delivered mind-expanding excitement, so stick with it if you get bogged down. Ok, so The Three-Body Problem was published a decade ago, but I just read it last year, so I’m calling it my favorite novel of 2018.

Stephen Colbert was very funny on the Daily Show, was fairly funny on the Colbert Report (though I never really got hooked by his O’Reilly Factor spoof), and is like a laser-guided smart bomb of funny on The Late Show, especially this year, a worthy successor to Dave Letterman. Since CBS doesn’t put shows on Hulu like NBC and ABC do, I have to digitally record the over-the-air broadcast (or watch it in the ancient way, live, though I’ve been loath to submit to a TV network schedule for many winters). The strengthening Late Show is worth the extra effort above and beyond a simple app subscription. Sharp as a tack in appearance, manner, knowledge and wit, this fellow Stephen became my favorite of the nightly late night comedic hosts in 2018. (In the weekly category, it would be a toss-up between John Oliver and Bill Maher, both devastatingly funny in very different styles.)

Apple’s iPad Pro 12.9 with the Smart Keyboard Folio has finally made the iPad a viable alternative to my 7-year-old MacBook Air as my primary personal “laptop” for traveling and lounging around the house. Sure, iOS 12 is still very limited relative to MacOS, as are many iOS apps relative to their MacOS and Windows counterparts, so occasionally I am forced to sit at my desk and use the big iMac. Like many online tech pundits, I feel that iOS software, originally designed for the diminutive iPhone over a decade ago, has not yet caught up to the excellent hardware at the top of the iPad lineup. However, I find that with the real keyboard always attached as a foldable cover and stand, I am able to easily handle most personal tasks (e.g., email, browsing, shopping, banking, IOT control) on my newest iPad, and am very glad that some common MacOS key combinations also work in iOS on the big tablet (e.g., copy, paste, search, switch apps). In fact, I am writing this post in the WordPress app on the iPad, though again it is limited relative to editing on the WordPress site in a Mac browser. Videos and games look great on the 12.9″ screen, and run smoothly, quickly on the A12X Bionic processor, without compromising excellent battery life, making it a great travel companion. I haven’t yet attached a large monitor to the iPad, but like knowing that I could if necessary. And how did I ever live without Face ID, simply looking at the screen in lieu of typing or pasting passwords or wiping the BBQ sauce off my thumb for Touch ID?! The iPad Pro 12.9 is by far my favorite new device of 2018.

HaveIBeenPwned is Troy Hunt’s security-focused site that helps you answer the seemingly simple titular question: have you been pwned (pronounced “poned”)? Being pwned is to be utterly, humiliatingly defeated, perhaps in a video game, or by hackers in this security context. Troy’s site lets you check if your email address has been listed in an online data breach (spoiler alert: it almost certainly has, especially if you’ve ever used Yahoo, Facebook, Marriott, Target, Equifax, a credit card, the web, an internet-connected device…you get the idea), and more importantly, if one of your passwords has likewise been compromised and posted online. (Read his explanation of how he keeps your typed-in password safe.) So what if it has?

• If you’re the non-savvy type who repeatedly uses a simple Monkey-123 style password for multiple online accounts, this site will help you confirm if your easily guessed/hacked password is already public knowledge.
• Hopefully, knowing that your “super secret” password is no secret will motivate you to use longer, stronger, more random passwords, preferably with the aid of a password manager like 1Password or LastPass. (I’ve tried them both and prefer 1Password in MacOS and iOS, but your mileage may vary.)
• Still not concerned? Consider this: if an online ne’er-do-well gains access to your email account due to your weak password being easily guessable or posted or sold online after a data breach, he can gain access to all of your other accounts by having password reset links sent to your (now his) email account (because you’re probably not using 2-factor authentication, you slacker), and easily steal your money and identity with just his laptop in a distant land. Thus, your email account can be the key to your entire kingdom–protect it wisely.

HaveIBeenPwned has been around a while checking email addresses, and Troy recently added the password check feature, making it one of my 2018 favs.

WordPress.com (not to be confused with the older, less user friendly WordPress.org) made it quite easy to start this blog after I deleted my Facebook account last summer. Like many increasingly knowledgeable users, I finally was fed up with Facebook’s long history of scandal and trading users’ data privacy for profit, not to mention its failure to address its pervasive fake news problem, making it a platform for propagating misinformation, toxicity and risk to people around the world. I now miss a few updates of moderate interest from friends and family–though I still get the most important news from the closest ones the “old fashioned” way through texts, email, and (gasp) talking–but lets face it: most posts on Facebook fall into one of three categories: narcissistic bragging, time-wasting garbage, or blatantly biased propaganda (including fake news). Leaving Facebook was like breathing fresh air again, and regaining lost hours every week. Starting a new blog on WordPress nostalgically reminded me of the fun I’d had writing blogs in past decades. So, WordPress, and my decision to switch to it, are among my favorites of 2018.

Today I created this WordPress site (with a TWIT discount…thanks, Leo). It’s been over a decade since I created my last web site, before Facebook stole my online attention. Now that I’ve deleted my FB account as part of an overdue online cleansing, it’s time for a personal web presence again.

Once you stop learning, you start dying. — Albert E.